The Executive Director and Group Chief Financial Officer of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Dr. Ayo Adepoju, has been recognised among seven distinguished awardees at the maiden Africa Finance Leaders Awards, held in Accra.

The awards ceremony formed part of the Conference of African Chief Financial Officers (CACFO), hosted from 3 to 4 November 2024.

The conference provided a strategic platform for Africa’s leading financial executives to deliberate on the evolving role of Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) amid global economic shifts, the lingering effects of the pandemic, and the continent’s drive towards sustainable growth.

This year’s conference explored a range of topical issues, including Sustainable Financing and ESG, AfCFTA and Trade Finance, AI in African Project Finance, Credit and Liquidity Management, and Corporate Governance and Risk in Post-Pandemic Africa.

The highlight of the two-day event was the introduction of the Africa Finance Leaders Awards, designed to celebrate financial excellence and innovation across the continent.

Executive Director of CACFO, Ms Hannah Awuku, said the initiative aims to “build Africa’s financial leadership future—one decision, one innovation, and one leader at a time,” describing the honourees as “deserving of every accolade.”

Dr. Adepoju received the Award for Excellence in Corporate Financial Performance and Growth (2025).

Appointed Group CFO and subsequently Group Executive Director in June 2025, he currently leads a team of over 250 finance professionals across 35 countries.

Under his stewardship, Ecobank has strengthened its financial resilience through key capital market transactions—including Eurobonds and sustainability-linked debt—enhancing its visibility on the global financial stage.

His leadership has been central to advancing Ecobank’s Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy, improving capital allocation, and spearheading transformation initiatives that have bolstered financial performance across Africa.

His strategic acumen, institutional depth, and visionary leadership continue to drive the bank’s growth trajectory.

Other awardees included H.E. Naji Mohammed Issa, Governor of the Central Bank of Libya; Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana; Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana’s Minister of Finance; Semiu Lamidi of FirstBank Ghana; Tsholofelo Molefe, Chief Financial Officer of South Africa’s MTN Group; and Ibukun Oyedeji, recognised for his contributions to Access Bank’s financial success in 2025.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff at Ghana’s Presidency, lauded the awardees for their exemplary performance, stating that true financial leadership “is not just about profit margins, but also about foresight, integrity, and impact.”

Organisers of the Africa Finance Leaders Awards emphasised that the scheme seeks to uphold transparency, fairness, and meritocracy in its selection process—promoting excellence, fostering innovation, and recognising sustainability-driven leadership across Africa’s financial landscape.